Photo By Sgt. Sebastian Nemec | Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton addresses the more than 650 34th Red Bull Infantry Division...... read more read more
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Thousands gathered at Saint Paul’s Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium for the final deployment ceremony on Thursday September 20, 2018, for the 650 Soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Red Bull Infantry Division being deployed to the Middle East under the command of Maj. General Benjamin Corell.
Called to attention during the ceremony by the commander of troops, Brig. Gen. Michael Wickman bellows out to the Soldiers, “RED BULLS!” The 650 deploying Red Bulls respond with a roar of their unit’s motto, “ATTACK!” Repeated two additional times, silence fell over all those gathered to see their loved ones off.
Spanning across 228 communities from several states, the Red Bull Soldiers will make their way to Fort Hood, Texas for a month of pre-mobilization training before being primarily stationed at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
For 57 percent of the departing Soldiers, this will be their first deployment, for 23 percent, their second, and 20 percent, their third or more.
“This is a challenge that our Red Bulls are trained and ready for,” said Division Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Hjelmstad of Battle Lake, Minnesota. “Our Citizen-Soldiers will return to their families and employers with new skills and experience that will make them even more valuable members of their communities.”
While deployed to Kuwait, the 34th will be responsible for operations within a region of U.S. Central Command.
“The Division’s mission is command and control within Operation Spartan Shield, which builds partner capacity in the Middle East, promotes regional self-reliance and increased security,” said Division Chief of Staff, Army Col. Simon Schaefer. “The Division will be responsible for operations in approximately 10 countries.”
The Red Bulls are expected to return home from their Middle Eastern deployment in late July of 2019.
Following the deployment ceremony, flowing out of the Roy Wilkins Auditorium following the ceremony, Soldiers were joined at the RiverCentre Exhibition Hall by their families and friends. A steak dinner was provided by Serving Our Troops to all in attendance, donated by local companies in appreciation of the service members sacrifice for the country, state and their communities.
Manning 42-buffet lines were more than 100 volunteers for Serving Our Troops, who served more than 5,000 meals to the Red Bulls and their families. The 12 oz. steaks were served with baked potatoes, green beans, salad, rolls and beverages.
Their mission is simple; dinner with the family. Since 2004, through 12 volunteer driven projects, more than 85,000 steak dinners have been served to Soldiers and families around the world by Serving Our Troops.
The Soldiers were joined for their ceremony and dinner by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, more than a dozen federally elected politicians, 30 leaders of Minnesota cities, and many former commanders and command sergeants major of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division.
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2018 12:31 |
| Story ID: | 294058 |
| Location: | ST. PAUL, MN, US |
| Web Views: | 373 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Red Bulls Mobilize for Middle Eastern Deployment, by SSG Bill Boecker, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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